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Backyard Touch GOURMET GRILLS 318 Guelph Street Georgetown 905.873.8835 STORE HOURS: MON. - FRI. 10-6, SAT. 10-5, SUN. 11-3 (FORMERLY BEACHCOMBER). . . Home of The Self-Cleaning Saltwater Hot Tub Free Cover Free Tool Kit Free Assembly SAVE $12500 Sale Ends August 25/08 While Supplies Last. ON ALL IN-STOCK BBQS Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, August 13, 2008 3 A Georgetown woman is asking whoever has been shooting their cat with a pellet gun to please stop. Its cruelty to the extreme, said Donna Evans of Stewart MacLaren Rd., whose family cat Tucker has recently returned from the vet after yet another surgery to remove a pellet from his body this one, the eighth the vet has found in him, was in his hip. Back in 2000 the vet removed two pellets from Tucker and a full- body X-ray done later revealed that he had five more pellets lodged in his body. They were deep inside muscle, so they couldnt be removed, said Evans. She believes all seven pellets were shot into Tucker between 2000 and 2004, then there was a four-year break, until he was shot again likely early last week. Her vet removed a pellet Saturday (August 2) after Evans took Tucker in because he was limping badly. Vet bills over the years have cost about $2,000. The most recent incident has been reported to Halton Police. Evans knows very well that indoors is the best place for a cat for many reasons and would prefer that Tucker stay inside like their other cat does, but the problem is Tucker, the offspring of a feral cat who gave birth in a garage, consid- ers himself an outdoor cat. He wont use the litter box in the house, insisting to do his busi- ness outdoors, and if the family tries to keep him inside he screams non-stop at the door. The instant we got him, he wouldnt stay inside, said Evans. They hoped he might change and even declawed Tucker, but he never did, she said. She said Tucker, who is neutered, never spends the night outdoors and is only outside when someone is home. He usually goes out for three or four hours in the morning, then comes back in before Evans goes to work. We try to be as responsible pet owners as we can be under the cir- cumstances, said Evans. She says Tuckers territory is the immediate neighbourhood and a nearby property with a barn. After the recent shooting she said they have determined that the only options they have now are to move or euthanize Tucker. She said it would be more humane to put the 10-year-old cat down than force him to stay indoors. But putting him down is not something they would do, so if she cant resolve the issue, moving is likely the only choice. I dont want to move. I love my house. I love the neighbour- hood, said Evans, who has lived there for approximately 14 years. She says her 23-year-old daugh- ter Morgan, who shares a special bond with Tucker, will move out with him if she has to, but her mom doesnt want her to leave. I would like this whole thing to be about tolerance, said Evans. There are things about other peo- ple I dont like, there are things about other animals that I dont like, but as a human race we have to learn to be more tolerant of one and other. We have to live togeth- er. She said she would love to fol- low the rules. I dont like to break them. I just dont have that ability with this particular cat. I would be more than willing to make restitution for any damage my cat has done. She stressed there are other ways to shoo Tucker away if thats the persons goal, such as using a hose, making a loud noise, sprin- kling around cayenne pepper. I dont really care what you do to frighten him, just dont hurt him, said Evans. Leathertown Festival 2008 Shooting family cat with pellet gun cruel to the extreme, says owner Morgan Evans comforts the family cat Tucker after the feline was recently shot by someone with a pellet gun. Photo by Lisa Tallyn LISA TALLYN Staff Writer The Leathertown Festival took over downtown Acton Sunday and luckily the weather co- operated for the most part as hundreds took in the 17th annual celebration. Top left: Kyle Hopper, 9, checks out Joy Sawyers eight-year-old Harlequin macaw Harley. Above: Twins Summer and Gabriella Warford of Acton made their own fun with a puddle and some shovels. Top right: Elvis impersonator Bruce Herron managed to get Zak Moore, 2, of Georgetown shaking all over. Far left: Nick van Dereyken, 14, goes for a tumble after knocking Zac Payne, 15, off his platform in the knock-em-off ring in a battle between the Acton teens. Left: Brodie, an 11-month-old Yorkie, enjoys the variety of entertainment from his new doggie stroller. Photos by Jon Borgstrom